Fourth Grade Math Vocabulary
1. Expression- numbers and symbols that represent a mathematical
relationship
An example of an expression is (4 + 5).
4+5
2. Equation- a statement that two mathematical expressions are equal
An example of an equation is 90 ÷ 9 = 10.
4+5=9
3. Division-the operation of separating into equal
groups.
When I divided a group of 6 cookies among 2 friends, each
had a smaller group of cookies.
4. Remainder- the amount left over after dividing into equal groups
One of the remainder when 7 is divided into 2 equal groups.
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5. Decimal Number- A number which contains a decimal point that
separates the whole number and the fractional part
The decimal number is read “one AND four-tenths.”
6. Tenth- one out of 10 equal parts
One-tenth can be written as a decimal or fraction.
7. Hundredth- one out of 100 equal parts
The decimal 0.01 has a 1 on the hundredths place.
8. Improper fraction-a fraction with a numerator greater than or equal
to its denominator
An improper fraction is equal or greater than 1.
5
3
2
9. Mixed Number-a number with a whole number and a fraction
One and two-thirds is a mixed number.
2
3
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10. Acute angle- An angle smaller than right angle
The letter “V” forms an acute angle, because it is smaller than a right angle.
11. Right angle- an angle formed by two perpendicular lines
Right angles can be measured with the corner of computer paper.
12. Obtuse- An angle greater than a right angle
The letter ”Y” forms two obtuse angles that are larger than right angles and
one acute angle.
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13. Parallel- lines or segments that are always the same distance apart
and will never intersect
The letter “H” has parallel segments.
14. Perpendicular- segments or lines that intersect at right angles
The letter “T” forms perpendicular segments.
15. Translation- a transformation that slides a shape to a different
position without rotating or flipping it
A translation slides an object.
16. Reflection- a transformation that flips a shape so it is a mirror image
of the original shape
A reflection flips an object.
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17. Rotation- a transformation that turns a shape around a central point
A rotation turns an object around a center point.
18. Parallelogram- a four-sided polygon with 2 pairs of parallel and
congruent sides
A parallelogram looks like a slanted rectangle.
19. Elapsed time-the amount of time that passes between two given times
To find elapsed time, I use time-on-a-line as a strategy.
20. Conversion-the renaming of one unit of measurement to another
equivalent unit of measure
1 foot
Use a table to make a conversion from feet to inches.
12 inches
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